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Over the ground lies a mantle of white….

Well, it is said that snow is a good insulator! My garlic, chives and oregano plants are definitely “winter-protected!”

My beds are the ones directly left of the tall accessible bed (with the trellis) that isn’t completely buried under the snow at the centre right of the photo. (It’s really hard to tell the difference between the regular raised beds and the big snow lumps!). You can just make out the decorative metal framework of the child’s bench that is at the foot of one of my beds. And it looks like a bunny or some other small critter walked over the edge of the box…the gate to the garden is wide open and frozen in place so that wouldn’t surprise me. Good thing we checked all the guards on the trees before the snow fell!

We have 35 beds in our community garden, plus we have all the perimeter space along the fence which contains a huge variety of perennials and annuals, as well as food plants such as rhubarb, raspberries, strawberries, haskap and herbs such as lovage, oregano, thyme, lavender, chives, and parsley. The gardeners can also grow large, sprawling plants such as pumpkins and zucchini in a section of the perimeter. The trees are all very young (the garden hasn’t even celebrated its fifth anniversary yet), but the apples and crabapples sported a good crop of fruit last year. I really ought to post a photo from the summer when the garden is in full GREEN – it’s very pretty!

Looking at the plants snoozing out there in that beautiful warm sunshine is giving me some ideas of my own – I know I have a ton of stuff to do yet in preparation for the holidays, but I think a little nap might just be in order…. 😉

Would love to see a summer photo too, to compare! I guess you won’t be gardening this weekend then… 😉 I’ll be cooking, cleaning, and generally getting the house in order for a few days of relaxation over Christmas. Wish we could have a little of your snow!

I’d love to see a summer picture. Community gardens are quite interesting and different from those who garden at home.

This weekend we will be delivering our candy cane reindeer all over our neighbourhood, avoiding shopping areas, and spend the weekend telling the kids they’ve eaten too many cookies. This year they are eating the cookies so fast they aren’t even getting iced; it appears naked cookies are just fine with the kids!

The kids love cookies alright. They have some how gone through 8 DOZEN in less than 48 hours. This boggles my mind. If this level of consumption continues I am sending them to Grandmas house this afternoon (hee, hee!)

I think perennials and cedars are best buried rather than exposed to harsh drying winter wind. We would get mountains of snow at the lake since there was no wind break and it’d all drift in the yard. The Roses came back every spring without hesitation.

Isn’t this dark and cold weather wanting you to nap? I feel like a bear. Always sleeping in and to bed early. Can’t wait for the turnaround.

It’s true, snow really does help the plants…so I guess, with all of it we’ve gotten so far, everything looks right on track for the survival of next year’s perennials and shrubs! I like to think so, anyway…. 🙂

I agree, I’m definitely in hibernation mode right now, and it doesn’t seem to have waned any with the arrival of the solstice. Maybe I’ll have more energy in the new year.

It’s always fascinating to me to see winter gardens in climates where there is snow. It buries everything beneath, and in our non-snowing climate everything just looks bare and brown. I would like an order of snow, hold the cold, please. LOL! I don’t think I’d do well in snow, just from lack of experience, but I do love the appearance. It’s so peaceful. Our weekend includes a family birthday at an historic hotel. It will be all decked out for the holidays, and I’m really looking forward to it. 🙂 I hope to see your garden again–next spring, lush and growing.

Yes – mostly apples and crabapples. I don’t know if they’re planning to put in any others, as we have limited space. Narrow, columnar types are necessary, ones that won’t shade the rest of the plants too much.

Thanks for sharing all your valuable information throughout 2013. It helps me to appreciate my experiences in the wilderness even more. Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and all the best for a prosperous and Happy New Year.